The Curatorial Panel of the Interfaith Art Exhibition Third Biennial 2015 consists of representatives from the Faith Trio congregations and individual artists, some being involved with Interfaith Art Exhibition since 2011. We have been planning and working on this exhibition for over six months and we curated arts out of open calls.

The judging of the artwork was made in a blind process in which we could not know the name of the artist when judging the artwork. We agreed that we will not vote on our own artwork or speak for it. We considered whether the artwork is relevant to the themes of the exhibit "We Are the Bridge". Does the artwork expresses a commitment to interfaith understanding, coexistence, peace and cultural exchange? We considered both the artwork and the written materials submitted (Artist Statement) to determine this.

We also investigated the relation of the artwork to other artwork and to the exhibition space we have. Does the artwork physically suit the exhibit? Is it ready to be hung? Can the size of the artwork be accommodated in the exhibit space? We considered the creativity and quality of execution of the artwork. It was important to us that the artwork is aesthetically interesting, has significant artistic value, and is visually pleasing.

We want to thank Ali Sheikholeslami, a community leader affiliated with ICCNC, who helped in the judging process. The Curatorial Panel, in alphabetical order based on the first name, is as follow:

The Curatorial Statement

In this year’s “We Are The Bridge” Interfaith Art Exhibition those in attendance will discover how artists creatively envision themselves, their culture, faith, community, and art being a bridge from conflict to resolution and reconciliation. We sought artwork that expresses a commitment to understanding, coexistence, peace, and to interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Artists from all faiths and cultures were invited to participate.

We believe that our community will find this to be an inspiring and thought-provoking array of artwork by a diverse group of artists. In offering art as a bridge from conflict to reconciliation the exhibit expresses the common hopes for peace and coexistence held by people of all faiths and creeds, nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds.

While the world wide web, airplanes, international trade, and a growing human population may make this Earth seem to be steadily becoming a smaller place, the distances that separate our world views seem to be ever more starkly defined. The distances between different faiths, nations, ethnicities, races, classes, genders, and sexual orientations often appear insurmountable, but we believe in our hearts that these distances can be bridged. It is our hope that through the imagining, thinking, and feeling embodied in these artworks that we can see and in seeing begin to understand how we can individually and collectively become the bridges that the world so needs.

In curating this exhibit, of course, we looked for beautiful finely crafted artwork, but even more important was the meaning that we saw the artists trying put into the images. We very much appreciated when the artists elucidated in the statements accompanying the artworks the positive meaning they intended for their art to convey.

We hope that all will come away from this exhibit not only moved and energized by the beautiful and powerful artistic images promoting bridges from conflict to resolution, but that people will also feel that the exhibit itself was a bridge between them and others, and between the different sides of their inner selves. That our community will draw strength from these images and visions empowering them to build new bridges through the conflicts they encounter in the world around them. That this will help us to work together to help to repair old bridges that have started to decay due to lack of use. Wherever we find ourselves there is so much in the world calling us to be bridges making the connections from conflict to understanding and healing. There are so many wars, so much inequity in our own society and across the world, there is mistrust over perceived differences, violence against women and the poor, destruction of our shared environment fueled by corporate greed and government inaction, etc. But we hope, that in a small way, this exhibit can help give us all the strength of heart to be living bridges.

The “Faith Trio” of the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, Montclair Presbyterian Church, and Kehilla Community Synagogue, in conjunction with the Ziya Art Center, have for the third time collaborated on an interfaith art exhibition and with your continuing support will do so again. Thank you for being a part of it.

* The Curatorial Statement is provided by Kirk Lumpkin on behalf of the Curatorial Panel

Call to Artists and Submission Details

EXHIBITION DATE AND PLACE

The exhibition opens with a reception ceremony on May 2nd, 2015, 5 - 8 p.m. at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC) at 1433 Madison St., Oakland 94612; it will run from May 2nd to 30th, 2015 and will be open for viewing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gallery space of the ICCNC (2nd floor).

EXHIBITION THEME AND GOAL

The Theme of the exhibition is “We Are the Bridge” in which we aim to discover how artists creatively envision themselves, their culture, faith, community, and art being a bridge from conflict to resolution and reconciliation. We are seeking artwork that expresses the theme and a commitment to interfaith understanding, coexistence, peace, and cultural dialogue. Artists from all faiths and cultures are invited to participate.

We seek original artwork in various mediums including painting, drawing, calligraphy, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, textile, digital art and mixed media. All artwork must be the original creation of the artist submitting the artwork. Artists at any level and with any style are encouraged to submit artwork.

This exhibition builds on the success of an inaugural Interfaith Art Exhibition in Fall 2011 “Diverse Visions of Harmony” featuring 40 artists, and a second one “Finding Common Ground through Sacred Words,” featuring 100 artists in May 2013. Both exhibitions garnered high praise and rave reviews from hundreds of visitors. The exhibition is sponsored by the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, Montclair Presbyterian Church, Kehilla Community Synagogue (forming the Faith Trio) in partnership with Ziya Art Center and Islamic Art Exhibit and it expresses their commitment to the arts and interfaith relationship building.

JURIED EXHIBITION

Entries will be judged on their relevance to theme, creativity, quality of execution, and ability of the gallery to accommodate by the Curatorial Committee representing the Faith Trio congregations. We will not consider submissions that do not relate to our theme in any way or depict human nudity. We only accept artwork that will be hand delivered to ICCNC in Oakland and picked up from this location.

ARTWORK SUBMISSION

Artists may submit up to two pieces of art at no charge. By April 15th, 2015, 12 a.m. PST you should fill out the Submission Form online HERE [link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1F2LAq_pyQaU36bI-gOHwUj9uWDjPG-10cjgfED1JE24/viewform?usp=send_form] and email the digital image of your artwork to [email protected] in just ONE email. The name of the image of your artwork should be the title of the artwork and the size of the actual work in inches (example: Sunset-10x20x1) corresponding exactly with its title and size on the Submission Form. The image of the artwork should not include frame and glass and should be of a good quality that is representable to the Jury and publication in the exhibition website.

Accepted artwork must be labeled with name, address, phone number and email address of the artist and the title of the artwork on the back of the frame. Flat artwork must be properly framed and ready for hanging (with eye screws and hanging wire on the back). Artworks should be safely wrapped or packaged for storage. Video and multimedia artwork needs to come with a proper displaying system set up by the artist.

HAND DELIVERY OF ARTWORK

April 26th and 27th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. are the two days for hand delivery of artwork to ICCNC at 1433 Madison St, Oakland, CA 94612.

ARTWORK SALES

Artwork submitted to this exhibition can be set for sale. Price is determined by the artist (US Dollars). If the artwork is not for sale, the artist should say it is Not For Sale (NFS). The sales will be handled directly between the artist and the purchaser. A voluntary donation of 20% of the sales is appreciated by the Faith Trio. Donations will be going toward planning for the next Interfaith Art Exhibition.

PICK-UP DETAILS

The days for pick-up hand delivered work from ICCNC at 1433 Madison St, Oakland, CA 94612 are June 5th and 6th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. We will not take any responsibility for artwork that is not picked up after June 6th.

LIABILITY

The artwork will be displayed in a safe and secure location, and the exhibition organizers will handle the artwork with care. However, the artwork will not be insured and the artist understands that the artwork is loaned at risk of the artist. Images of artwork submitted may be used in printed and digital formats (including but not limited to the exhibit book, posters and flyers, and online gallery) by the organizations leading the exhibition.

AGREEMENT

Submitting artwork to this exhibition acknowledges agreement set forth in this Call to Artists. The organizations leading the exhibition may rescind the right of hanging or displaying any art misrepresented or unsuitably presented.